Collapsible cot, chair, and stretcher



Nov. 4, 1958 P. BRANSON COLLAPSIBLE COT. CHAIR, AND STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 'July 3, 1956 \6' & IN VEN TOR.

I'dIZJZIZ ATTD RN EYE Nov. 4, 1958 P. BRANSON COLLAPS IBLE COT, CHAIR, AND STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1956 INVENTOR.

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ATTD R N EYS United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE COT, CHAIR, AND STRETCHE Paul Branson, Rockville, Ind.

Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,699

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-47) This invention relates to collapsible or folding fumiture, and in particular a comparatively light weight frame having hinged tubular side bars with a U-shaped telescop ing section in one end and with the parts held in upright positions with diagonally disposed braces and covered with a suitable weight ducking whereby the parts may be adjusted to form a chair, cot or stretcher.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a utility device in which a comparatively light frame covered with canvas, ducking or the like may be carried continuously in a motor vehicle and readily set up to form a chair, cot, or stretcher.

Various types of folding chairs, cots and other articles of furniture have been provided, however, with the con- ,ventional type of folding chair it is difficult to adjust the positions of the parts whereby the device may be used as a cot or stretcher and in numerous instances, and particularly in case of an accident, it is desirable to provide a collapsible or folding chair that is adapted to be extended for use as a cot or stretcher. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a substantially rectangular-shaped frame having a flexible cover with a telescoping U-shaped end section slidably held in parallel side rails wherein the side rails are pivotally connected and in which the device is provided with adjustable braces for retaining the parts in upright positions.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a frame for a folding chair whereby parts of the frame are adapted to be extended to form a cot or stretcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame for a folding chair or the like wherein the frame is adapted to be extended to form a cot or stretcher and wherein supporting elements extended from the frame are adapted to support the frame in spaced relation to a floor or other surface upon which the device is positioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible chair in which the parts are adapted to be extended to form a cot or stretcher in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a frame having parallel side rails hinged at points intermediate of the ends with a U-shaped section slidably mounted in the side rails at one end of the frame, with another U-shaped section hinged to the ends of the side rails at the opposite end of the frame, with braces adjustably attached to the side rails for supporting the parts in outstanding or folded positions and with a cover of flexible material mounted on the frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device showing the frame extended to form a cot or stretcher and with part of the covering broken away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device also with the parts extended, said section being taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the device taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a detail looking toward the under surface of one end of the frame with the larger part of the frame broken away and illustrating a method of lacing the flexible cover to secure the cover on the frame.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the frame with the cover removed illustrating the device with the parts folded to form .a chair.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the device with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a detail showing the braces for retaining the parts in upright .positions. 7

Figure 8 is a detail showing one of the rollers positioned at the ends of offset bars of the frame.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a side elevational view of the intermediate part of the frame illustrating the positions of the braces on the side bars of the frame. 7

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved collapsible frame for forming a chair, cot, or stretcher includes parallel tubular rails 10 and 11 with sockets 12 and 13 respectively on oneof 'the ends thereof, L-shaped fittings 14 in which the sockets 12 and 13 are mounted, rails 17, 18 are pivotally connected through pins 15 and 16, to the fitting 14, a U-s haped lower section having a cross bar 19 with side pieces 20 and 21 pivotally connected to the arms 17 and 18 by hinges 22 and 23, an

upper U-shap'ed frame having a cross bar 24 with end pieces 25 and 26 slidably mounted in the tubular rails 10 and 11, braces 27 and 28, and a cover of suitable weight ducking, as indicated by the numeral 29.

The upper ends of the rails 10 and 11 are provided with thumb screws 30 for retaining the telescoping end pieces 25 and 26 in adjusted positions and pins 31 for pivotally attaching the upper ends of the braces 27 to the rails.

The cross bar 24 at the end of the upper U-shaped frame is provided with fingers 32 and 33 on the ends of which cups 34 of rubber or the like are positioned. With the fingers extended at a right angle fro-m the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper end of the frame is supported in spaced relation to a floor, or the like as indicated by the numeral 35.

The arms 17 and 18 are provided with studs 36 and 37 on which thumb nuts 38 are positioned and, as illustrated in Fig. 6 the studs are located whereby the free ends of the braces 27 and 28 may both be secured thereon with the thumb nuts. The lower ends of the braces 28 are pivotally connected to the side pieces 20 and 21 of the lower U-shaped frame with pins 39.

The braces 27 are provided with openings 40 and 41 having stud receiving notches in one of the sides thereof and the braces 28 are provided with similar openings 42 and 43 also having stud receiving notches in the sides. By this means the positions of the braces on the studs 36 and 37 are readily adjustable to adjust the positions of the rails 10 and 11, forming the back of a chair and also the pieces 20 and 21 forming the front legs of the chair.

With the parts extended, as illustrated in Fig. 1 the openings 41 of the braces 27 and the openings 43 of the braces 28 are positioned on the studs 36 and 37, as illustrated in Fig. 9, thereby providing means for clamping the parts in outwardly extended positions. The braces 27 are offset at the points 44 to provide clearance for the braces 28.

The frame is provided with rollers 45 and 46 which are journaled with pins 47 in the ends of legs 48 and 49 that extend from the fitting 14. The legs 48 and 49 are connected with a cross bar 50 and the bar 50 is positioned to engage a bar or cross piece 51 on the rails or arms 17 and 18. By this means the extended frame, as used for a cot, may be supported in spaced relation to the ground, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper end of the device being supported by the fingers 32 and 33. The cover 29, which may be formed of canvas or a suitable ducking is extended over the frame with portions cut out at the corners, as illustrated in Fig. l, and,

as shown in Fig. 4, the edges of the cover may be provided with eyelets or grommets 52 and strands 53 of a suitable flexible material are laced through the eyelets or grommets. The improved frame of this invention may, there fore, be used as a cot or stretcher with the parts extended as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or as a chair with the parts folded to positions as illustrated in Figs. and 6. With the frame formed of aluminum or other com paratively light weight material the frame may readily be collapsed and positioned in a storage area in a motor vehicle so that it may be carried continuously and also so that it may readily be set up for use.

This combination chair, cot and stretcher, has been designed to meet the needs of any and all emergencies and embodies a full length stretcher of 74", a short stretcher of either 39" or 51" length, plus an invalid chair. The design is such that the equipment can be converted readily from one form into another with This equipment, as designed, is a unit complete with in itself and will fulfill the emergency requirements of any agency such as fire or police departments, industrial plants, aboard ship, and emergency units with ambulance service and the like.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What'is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, a frame, a cover connected to the frame, said frame including a pair of spaced parallel rails having sockets on an end thereof, fittings connected to said sockets, legs connected to said fittings, rollers connected to said legs, a bar connected to said legs, arms pivotally connected to said fittings, a cross piece connected to said arms for selective engagement by said bar, side pieces pivotally connected to said arms, braces connected to said rails and side pieces and to said arms, there being notched portions in said braces, securing elements mount-ed on said arms connecting said notched portions together, end pieces adjustably connected to said rails, a cross bar connected to said end pieces, and fingers extending from said cross bar and having cups connected thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 9,128 Bass July 20, 1852 2,722,966 Belyeu Nov. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 795,365 France Jan. 6, 1936 810,992 France Jan. 9, 1937 

